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Elsie W. Jordan 




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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Ike 

Little Superintendent 

A TRUE STORY 



By 
EU3IE W. JORDAN 



11 lustra ed 






Cincinnati 
The Standard Publishing Company 



Copyrighted, 1 9 1 4, by 
The Standard Publishing Company 



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■>;» 



MAY 21 1914 



©C1A37G099 



Dedication 

To the dear boys and girls of the New Town 
Union Christian Mission Sunday-school, to the 
faithful and loyal superintendent, to the earnest 
Christian teachers and to the memory of Maizie 
Swoger. 



CONTENTS 



f. PAGE 

New Town I 

II. 
Maizie 6 

III. 
The Little Missionary 10 

IV. 
The Little Superintendent 14 

V. 
The Superintendent Promoted 18 

VI. 

CELEBRATI Nf, CHRISTM AS 22 

VII. 
The School and Its Work 28 

VIII. 
The New Superintendent and the Teachers 31 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Facing page 

Mr. Jacob Swoger, His Daughter Maizie and Her Niete 6^ 

Maizie Swimming in Twenty-six Feet of Water 10 ^ 

Maizie Teaching in the Field 14 u 

The First Aid House and the Sunday-school Pupils. . 18 " 

The Swimming-class 22 S 

The Sewing-class 28 S 

The New Superintendent 31 V 

The Teachers 35 \- 



vii 



INTRODUCTION 

The life of the dear girl described in this 
volume was such as should insure an ex- 
tended circulation of the book. Her courage 
and fortitude, her purity and devotion to 
God, and the great love which she had for 
all of God's creatures, combine to make of 
hers an ideal life. 

Could the reader but see the effect of her 
life as inscribed upon the lives of the chil- 
dren of New Town, both American and 
foreign, he would readily apply Heb. 1 1 : 
4, she "being dead, yet speaketh." Many 
foreign children, taught from infancy to 
worship saints as well as God, place her 
spirit among those authorized for worship 
by the Church of Rome. 

This story is given to the public for three 
reasons. First, it is interesting; second, it 
is inspiring; third, it is true. 

Requested in the spring of 1913 to write 
the story for the Pennsylvania Herald, the 
organ of the State Sunday-school Associa- 
tion, I prepared it in compact form for 



x INTRODUCTION 

publication. This article was published not 
only in the Herald, but was copied by many 
church and daily papers. Several thousand 
copies were also printed in pamphlet form 
and scattered throughout Fayette County, 
and other parts of Pennsylvania. 

Since that time, requests have come in 
such numbers for a complete account of her 
life and work, that the author of this volume 
was prevailed upon to undertake the task, 
and the merits of her work must be decided 
by the reader. 

A. F. Hanes, 
Missionary to the Coke-fields. 



New Town. 

Along the banks of the Monongahela 
River is situated the old town of Browns- 
ville, surrounded on all sides by the beauti- 
ful hills of western Pennsylvania. South 
Brownsville, which is the Second Ward of 
Brownsville proper, is called by many New 
Town. There are at least five hundred 
people in this part of Brownsville, and they 
are for the most part foreigners. All along 
the river-bank, and extending in all direc- 
tions, may be seen coke-ovens ; for this sec- 
tion of the country is the very heart of the 
coke region. Here, every day, there are 
hundreds upon hundreds of coke-ovens in 
operation. 

To a passer-by, these coke-ovens are very 
interesting, but to those who work at them, 
and to those who live in the coke regions, 
the fascination is not so great. So often we 
are unmindful of the blessings that are ours. 
We do not realize the number of sacrifices 

made, or the many hardships endured, by 

1 



2 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

those who give us the necessities of life. We 
who are far removed from the coke region 
can not imagine what it would mean to have 
cloud after cloud of black smoke ascending 
continually from hundreds of ovens. Yet 
this is going on all the time, night and day, 
and frequently the smoke is so dense that 
it is almost impossible to see the sun. Then, 
think of the inconvenience experienced by 
the falling of so much soot all the while. 
The neat housewife can understand what 
this would mean, when clothes are on the 
line or white curtains or center-pieces adorn 
the house. Yet in order to have the coke 
we must have the smoke. Then, there is 
the heat from these ovens, too. Part of 
the year this would not be an inconvenience, 
but just imagine what it would mean on 
one of those hot, sultry days in July or 
August when there is scarcely a leaf stir- 
ring. Whenever there does happen to be 
a breath of air stirring, instead of a cool, 
refreshing breeze from the lake or moun- 
tains, it is a hot, smoky waft from the 
ovens. 

The coke-ovens are built in long rows. 
They are made of stone, brick or cement. 
There are the two kinds — the "Welsh" or 



NEW TOWN 3 

square ovens and the "Beehive" or round 
ones. When the coal is brought from the 
mine, it is dropped into the oven through 
a round hole in the top. The oven is then 
sealed up air-tight and lighted, and a very 
high temperature is kept up for at least 
twelve hours. Some ovens burn for forty- 
eight hours and more. The fire is then put 
out, and when the coke has cooled down it 
is drawn out and loaded onto cars to be sent 
to all parts of the country. The ovens are 
then refilled and the work goes on as before. 
In order to do all the work about the 
coke-ovens, many hands are necessary. In 
view of the fact that this is labor that 
almost any man can do, and that the men 
of our own country do not care to do this 
kind of work, we can readily understand 
that the people who live in coke regions are 
mostly foreign. It is positively true that 
in this locality may be found men, women 
and children of every nationality. Train- 
load after trainload of emigrants leave New 
York and Philadelphia daily to find employ- 
ment in the coke regions and the mining 
districts. Some of these are hard-working, 
energetic men, while others are quite worth- 
less; yet there are many who, with a little 



4 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

care and attention, could be converted into 
good American citizens. 

God has given America a great oppor- 
tunity for missionary work in bringing the 
foreigner to our door. Many will not heed 
this, but after it is too late we will regret 
that we neglected "the stranger within our 
gates." It is true, to a certain extent, that 
it is hard to convert the foreigner who has 
reached middle age, but this can not be said 
of the children. When the foreign children 
reach our land it is with the determination 
to become Americans. They are very quick 
to imitate us in everything. They are edu- 
cated in our schools and are taught our 
language. Why, then, should we hesitate 
to teach them about our God? When once 
taught and converted, they become strong 
Christians and are worth all that is done 
for them. 

How true is that Bible verse that is so 
familiar to all of us, "A little child shall 
lead them. ,, The people of Brownsville 
know this to be true. God gave the people 
in this part of the country a wonderful 
chance to help evangelize the world, but 
none were able to see this until led by a 
child. At the time this story opens there 



NEW TOWN 5 

was not a church or Sunday-school in New 
Town to care for the foreigners. Some- 
times the question of giving them religious 
training would come up for discussion, but 
after a short time it would be dropped as 
something entirely worthless. The excuse 
would be made that the priest had too much 
control over the foreigner, or that they were 
too well grounded in their own beliefs and 
customs, therefore they wouldn't grasp a 
new religion. But, to one who knows these 
people, this is absurd. With a little care 
and attention they will learn anything, and 
when once started they become very enthusi- 
astic. It is the purpose of this story to show 
how a little child can lead, and what can be 
accomplished by children and with children. 



MAIZIE 7 

She was very conscientious, both in her work 
and play. She was an obedient, kind pupil, 
always trying to do her best. She was 
always thoughtful and considerate of others. 

Among her playmates Maizie was very 
popular. During recess or after the school 
hours she was always in demand because 
her friends liked to be with her. She could 
enter into all games, and spent much time 
in teaching the foreign children American 
games. She was always ready and willing 
to do what others wanted, so long as it 
was right. Her playmates and friends were 
numerous. Every child in New Town knew 
Maizie, and all loved her. She made as 
much fuss over a little black child as she 
did over a white one; and the dirty, neg- 
lected Italian was as dear to her as the 
spotless American child. She looked upon 
all children as her brothers and sisters, and 
took delight in being with them, telling them 
stories and teaching them American ways. 

In all outdoor sports Maizie was a born 
leader. As a swimmer she could not be ex- 
celled by one of her own age. She and her 
father spent much time and patience teach- 
ing the foreign boys and girls to swim. 
Maizie even surpassed her father when it 

(2) 



8 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

came to teaching others to swim. No part 
of the Monongahela River was too deep 
for her to swim in, and as soon as she 
heard of a new stroke or method of swim- 
ming, she mastered it. With a gun she was 
equally skillful, and could compete with al- 
most any marksman. In the art of swim- 
ming and shooting Mr. Swoger was Maizie's 
instructor, and he had the reward of find- 
ing his daughter a very apt pupil. 

Maizie had a sweet voice, and she used 
it continually to sing praises. She could 
play the piano nicely, and she loved music. 
Many lonesome hours of her father's were 
passed in singing and playing. Maizie loved 
to please her father, and he in turn was 
very proud of his only daughter. 

Just as sure as there was a Sunday-school 
near, Maizie found it. She loved to attend 
Sunday-school, and was a faithful attendant. 
She seemed to be happiest when hearing 
about God or reading her Bible. This book 
was her constant companion, and it is all 
full of marks, showing favorite and helpful 
passages. She loved to talk about God, and, 
to her, God was very near and very real. 
Even when out at play with her playmates, 
she was always mindful of the fact that God 



MAIZIE 9 

was with her, and she was never too busy 
or too much interested in something else to 
tell others about her heavenly Father. Be- 
cause there was no church in New Town, 
Maizie walked to Brownsville every Sunday 
morning in order to attend Sunday-school. 



III. 

The Little Missionary. 

One evening in the fall of 1908, Maizie, 
who was just twelve years old, and her 
father were sitting on the porch of her 
brother's house in New Town, singing 
hymns. Looking in all directions, they could 
see foreigners, and every here and there a 
group of children were busy playing. It 
was the Lord's Day, and Maizie was think- 
ing of the Sunday-school she had attended 
while in Pittsburgh, also of the one in 
Brownsville. As she watched these children 
playing in the streets, she said: 

"Papa, these children ought to be in Sun- 
day-school." 

"Yes," he answered, "they ought to be." 

"Well, I am going to see if they will let 
me teach them," she replied, and immediately 
suited her words to action. 

In just a few minutes she had gathered 

from ten to fifteen children around her. At 

first it was very hard for her to teach them, 

for many of them could not understand 

10 



THE LITTLE MISSIONARY 11 

English. But she determined to teach them, 
and she kept on with her good work every 
day, and before long it was not a task, but 
a real pleasure, to instruct them, in her sim- 
ple, childish way. 

These children never had had an Ameri- 
can take any interest in them, and conse- 
quently they did not know what to think of 
Maizie. She would gather these children to- 
gether in a large field close by, and here she 
would read to them Bible stories, or else 
talk to them, in simple, childlike faith, of 
God, the Father of all. Her audience, which 
at first began with ten or twelve children, 
soon grew to a hundred or more. Every 
Sunday afternoon Maizie and her children 
assembled in the field to learn of God, and 
the teacher as well as the pupils were very 
faithful. 

When it became too cold for Maizie to 
meet her class out of doors, she, like her 
Master of old, went from house to house 
teaching. She visited the sick, and com- 
forted those in sorrow and rejoiced with 
those who were happy. Whenever Maizie 
was seen on the street, it was with a crowd 
of little foreign children clinging to her, 
and, because of her sweet, motherly ways, 



12 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

some of the foreign women named her "The 
Little Mother." 

Every Christmas she took advantage of 
the occasion by impressing on her pupils the 
lesson of God's greatest gift to the world. 
At this time she would remember every little 
child and every mother with some little token 
of love. Although not blessed with an abun- 
dance of this world's goods, Maizie saved 
what money she had, and, instead of spend- 
ing it on ribbons and jewelry and candy for 
herself, she used it to buy gifts for her little 
friends. She even knew when the birthday 
of each little friend came, and never al- 
lowed one to go by unnoticed. 

For two years "the little teacher" kept 
up her work. At the end of this time she 
decided that something more definite must 
be done, if these foreigners were to be won 
for Christ. She asked the churches near by 
to come to her aid, and provide a place of 
meeting for these eager learners, and teach- 
ers who were competent to give these chil- 
dren the instruction they so much desired. 
However, her pleadings were all in vain, for 
no one seemed to think it worth while to 
carry on a work in this part of the town, 
which had the reputation of being very 



THE LITTLE MISSIONARY 13 

wicked. Maizie tried to tell them how eager 
these people were to learn, but no one was 
ready to listen to and help her. It seemed as 
though each church had its own problems 
to solve, and its members were engaged in 
doing all kinds of missionary work, yet en- 
tirely unmindful of "the stranger within his 
gate." 

Although very much discouraged, Maizie 
continued to work and pray, and she firmly 
believed that the Lord would answer her 
prayer. With tears streaming down her 
face, because people would not heed the cry 
of these children, Maizie ran to her father 
and said: 

"Now, papa, with God's help I will make 
from this bunch of children some of the 
greatest leaders the world has ever had, and 
my faith is in God and he will not let me 
fail. All that these poor children want is a 
chance. " 

So, with faith as strong as this and de- 
termination equally as strong, Maizie kept 
on and soon had her prayer answered. 



IV. 

The Little Superintendent. 

Mr. William Hood, the superintendent of 
the H. C. Frick Company at Brownsville, 
heard of Maizie and her work, and became 
interested. He went to work at once to find 
a meeting-place for these earnest children, 
and, as a result of his efforts, Maizie and 
her host of little ones were given the use of 
an abandoned "First Aid" house. When the 
little missionary heard this good news, her 
joy was beyond measure. After hearing the 
good word, one of the first things she did 
was to call her little ones together, and, 
after telling them the good news, they all 
thanked God for answering their prayer. 

This building, which Maizie and her chil- 
dren took as a direct answer to their pray- 
ers, would no doubt have proved worthless 
to most people. But not so with these earn- 
est workers. Although this building is sit- 
uated about half a mile from New Town, 
and although it consisted of but one room, 
12x20 feet, and although it was entirely 

14 



THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 15 

destitute of furniture, yet it was gladly re- 
ceived by Maizie and her followers. No com- 
plaint whatever was made, and the children 
rejoiced to have a meeting-room. 

Seats from an old building were pro- 
cured and put in this building, and here 
the New Town Union Christian Mission 
Sunday-school met every Sunday afternoon. 
The building was not large enough to ac- 
commodate the entire school at one time, 
because during the two years it had grown 
from ten or fifteen to over one hundred, 
^ut this faithful leader, who gave all her 

lie to the Lord, divided the school into 
two sections and had the different sections 
meet at different times. 

Now that the children had a regular place 
of meeting, Maizie was anxious that the 
pupils be organized into some kind of a 
body whereby more systematic work might 
be done. Accordingly Maizie and her father 
called together the older girls who had been 
attending the school, and they appointed 
Maizie as superintendent, and seven of the 
girls were made teachers. The management 
of the school was planned entirely by Maizie, 
and everything is done in a businesslike 
manner. Each teacher is called a director 



16 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

of the school, and they, along with Mr. 
Swoger, who is also a director, govern the 
entire school. 

No book but the Bible is used in this 
little school and no creed but the Christ is 
taught. The teachers and superintendent, 
although very young, are very sincere and 
conscientious in their teaching. The one 
main thought the teachers try to impress on 
these little foreign children is that their God 
is a real God and always with them. They 
impress upon their hearers that God lives in 
the open as well as in the Sunday-school 
room, and they are taught to pray to him 
on the street, in the woods and fields, as 
well as in their own homes. 

This school, no doubt, holds the record of 
having the youngest superintendent and the 
youngest teachers of any school in the coun- 
try. The little superintendent began her 
work when she was but twelve years old, 
and her teachers are from twelve to sixteen 
years of age now. This is distinctively a 
child's work — begun by a child, carried on 
by children, for children. Mr. Swoger is 
the only adult who attends the school. 

And thus the Union Christian Mission 
Sunday-school began, and it grew and pros- 



THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 17 

pered as the days went by. Every Sunday 
afternoon, regardless of the weather, over 
one hundred children gathered to praise God 
and learn more of his word. Every Sun- 
day the faithful superintendent and teachers 
are found in their place, eager to teach the 
little scholars. 

As the work progressed, Maizie realized 
that, in order to be an example to others, 
she herself must follow her Saviour and 
obey his commands. By studying her Bible 
faithfully, she found out that in order to 
truly follow Christ she must be baptized. 
She immediately sent word to Rev. A. F. 
Hanes, who had just recently moved to 
Brownsville, to come and baptize her. Some- 
how or other this word failed to reach Mr. 
Hanes, and he, not knowing of Maizie or 
her work or her desire, did not respond to 
her request. However, Maizie was firm in 
her belief, and when Mr. Hanes failed to 
come, she sent word to Rev. E. I. McKeever, 
pastor of the Baptist Church, to baptize her. 
Mr. McKeever came immediately, and on 
the 24th day of November, 1912, Maizie 
was buried with her Saviour in baptism. 



PROMOTED 19 

schoolroom, for here the Christmas celebra- 
tion was to take place, and the pretty Christ- 
mas colors, red and green, were seen every- 
where. Through the solicitation of these 
brave workers, enough money was raised 
with which to buy candy and other good 
things to eat that delight boys and girls. At 
this same time, the little superintendent had 
in her desk at school a writing tablet in 
which she was writing an original story 
which she intended to read to the children 
at the Christmas entertainment. 

Just a few days before Christmas, our 
little heroine, although busy with first one 
thing and then another, was taken sick with 
pneumonia. Her illness became serious from 
the first, and, although all was done for her 
that man could do, and although loath to 
go and leave her work unfinished, the soul 
of this little leader was called home and 
her work on earth was finished. Thus, on 
the 24th of December, just the day before 
Christmas and just one month after her 
baptism, Maizie Swoger passed into the 
great beyond to be with her Saviour whom 
she so much loved. 

A few minutes before Maizie breathed 
her last, she realized her condition, and, 



20 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

unselfish as she was, her thoughts and de- 
sires were for others. Realizing that she 
could not help her little ones celebrate their 
Saviour's birthday, she asked her father to 
promise her that, no difference what should 
happen, he would see that the children's 
celebration at the First Aid House be car- 
ried out as planned. This brave father, 
although overwhelmed with grief at the 
thought of parting with his only daughter 
and his main comfort in life, gladly granted 
Maizie her dying request. Satisfied with 
this, the dying girl appointed Leona McGary, 
a girl of her own age and a teacher in the 
Sunday-school, to take her place as superin- 
tendent, and urged her to keep up the work 
that had been started. 

When the news of Maizie's death was 
noised about, all in New Town mourned. 
Every man, woman and child had grown 
to love this little missionary, and her death 
was a loss to all. The children of the Sun- 
day-school found it hard to believe that their 
leader was dead. The teachers of the mis- 
sion who had worked hand in hand with 
Maizie felt the loss of their superintendent 
keenly. However, when it was known that 
Maizie had appointed another to take her 



PROMOTED 21 

place, and that it was her last wish that they 
keep up the work, these children rallied at 
once around Leona McGary and worked 
faithfully with her. They knew that their 
loss was great, and, although they felt as 
though they could not keep up the work with- 
out Maizie, yet they realized that if they 
kept up the work "the little superintendent ,, 
started, they would be pleasing her best. 
They remembered the unselfish disposition 
of their former leader, and determined to be 
more like her and more like her Saviour, of 
whom she taught them. 



VI. 

Celebrating Christmas. 

The children of the Sunday-school de- 
sired to give up the Christmas celebration 
when they heard of Maizie's death, but when 
they were told of the promise made by Mr. 
Swoger to go on with the festival, they all 
consented to do their part in making it a 
success. But before the little guests ar- 
rived, the hands of the teachers had en- 
twined crepe among the bright red and 
green, in memory of the one who never 
again would meet with them there. 

At the appointed hour on Christmas Day, 
the new superintendent, together with the 
loyal teachers and the grief-stricken father 
of Maizie, had everything in readiness for 
the children. Soon the children came in 
such numbers that all could not be accom- 
modated. A table the entire length of the 
building was spread, and on either side 
were seated as many children as could pos- 
sibly crowd in. Outside were as many more 
children waiting for their turn to come. 

22 



CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS 23 

The table was filled with good things to 
eat, and the eyes of the little foreign chil- 
dren fairly danced as they sat at the table. 
Ice-cream, cake and candy such as was here 
was a luxury indeed to these little ones. 

Mr. Swoger, Maizie's father, took his 
daughter's place at the table and presided at 
the banquet. Although his heart was almost 
broken over the loss of his loved one, yet 
this good man, remembering his daughter's 
request, endeavored to make this day a hap- 
py one for the children. Upon being inter- 
viewed by a stranger, about this, Mr. Swoger 
replied: "Yes, I am endeavoring to carry 
out, in my weak way, the last request of my 
little daughter, that all the children of New 
Town, whether native or foreign, should 
have a merry Christmas, and already we 
have one hundred of them." 

The next day the body of this fair child 
of God was laid to rest, and no king, mil- 
lionaire or world-famed philanthropist ever 
had a truer number of mourners than did 
this child. Every one in New Town came 
out to pay their respects to this young leader, 
and men, women and children mourned to- 
gether in this common loss. Flowers were 
sent from many parts of the country where 

(3) 



24 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

the story of Maizie's life and death was 
known, and many a poor foreigner laid a 
little bouquet of wild flowers on the coffin 
of the little superintendent as an expression 
of love. 

But the work that Maizie started was not 
to cease at her death. The influence of such 
a life can never end. The New Town Union 
Mission Sunday-school is growing every 
week as a result of the influence of this life. 
Although Maizie has been dead for some 
time, the good work has kept on, and the 
school has increased to almost twice its size. 
Any one living in New Town will tell you 
about Maizie and her good work, and these 
foreigners are proud to say they knew her 
and that she visited them. Many loving 
tributes have been paid to the memory of 
this young girl which go to show that she 
was respected and loved by all. The follow- 
ing tribute is taken from a letter written by 
Miss Etta M. DeLaney, the last teacher 
Maizie had in public school in Brownsville: 

Maizie was under my instruction about four 
months, and during that time manifested in the high- 
est degree all of the qualities of an earnest, honor- 
able, upright and painstaking pupil. I never asked 
for anything that was too hard or too much for her 



CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS 25 

to do for me, and while I might say she was always 
perfect in her work, she ever seemed to think she 
could have done more. 

I never heard her complain in any way. When 
I praised her for the good work she was doing with 
the children in Sunday-school she did not seem to 
feel she was. 

"Doing, each day that went by, some little good, 
Not dreaming of great things to be done by and 
by." 

Maizie was loved and respected by her classmates, 
being always ready and willing to help them. We 
all missed her so much. 

In closing I would say : 

"None knew her but to love her, 
None named her but to praise." 

Although Maizie was but a child, yet her 
life influenced the men of the community. 
This is clearly seen in the following letter 
from Mr. Wilt, the manager of the Union 
Supply Store for the H. C. Frick Coal and 
Coke Company: 

So. Brownsville, Pa., July 28, 1913. 
Mrs. Jordan : — How well the writer remembers 
Maizie Swoger, the little missionary of South 
Brownsville; how intelligent and affectionate in all 
things, ever displaying a thoughtfulness beyond her 
years. The sudden removal of such a life from our 
midst left a vacancy and a shadow that is deeply 



26 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

realized by all her many friends, and especially her 
band of Sunday-school workers which she gathered 
together. Many of these children had never heard 
about Jesus until Maizie went into their homes and 
told them how Jesus loved little children. 

Maizie's life being consecrated to the Lord, she 
did her work in the spirit of the Master, gathering 
in these little ones of all classes. Many of them 
did not know what Sunday was for, until Maizie 
taught them that it was the Lord's Day. 

The great lesson that this girl's life teaches the 
community in which she lived is, "Does it pay to 
live a consecrated life?" Maizie could have chosen 
the worldly life as many girls do, but what about 
the ending? Maizie decided that the ending of life 
was her prize. Her life here was short, but she did 
more in her few short years on earth than many who 
have lived to old age. 

While Maizie has gone home, yet the good seed 
she planted while here is springing up and bringing 
forth much fruit for the Master. The good that 
this young girl did in this community will always 
be remembered by its people. 

Very truly yours, H. S. Wilt. 

The following tribute from Mr. Swoger is 
added here to give the reader an insight into 
the life of the father of this young girl. Not- 
withstanding the fact that Mr. Swoger has 
had few advantages in his life, he has used 
well the talents that were his and has made 
his own life, as well as that of his daughters, 



CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS 27 

brighten the lives of others. It can readily 
be seen that Maizie inherited her unselfish 
disposition from her father: 

To my Daughter, Maizie Merial Swoger. 

A rose placed among thorns and brambles, who 
was always fair to look upon and whose great sweet- 
ness made a lasting favor. A ray of sunshine that 
could be seen a long way off, and by looking upon 
it the darkest clouds of despair would quickly vanish. 
A great light set in front of me to pilot me on to the 
living God. Her great faith in her Saviour and her 
God was strong food to my soul and ease to my 
heart. Her earnest work was like a great mountain 
of strength to me. She is only away on a visit. 
Soon she will come again in her earnestness. Blessed 
God and dear Saviour, help me to so prepare myself 
that we may meet again a sweetheart who was taken 
away from me. But I am well pleased because she 
was claimed by a greater lover. I wish I had ten 
thousand daughters that would love their Saviour 
and their God with such a great love. 

Jacob Swoger. 



THE SCHOOL AND ITS WORK 29 

mean much to these little ones. The "Cross 
and Crown" system is used, and has been 
the means of building up the school very 
much. 

Besides the regular Sunday meeting, these 
children are given instruction through the 
week. Mr. Jacob Swoger devotes one after- 
noon every week, during warm weather, to 
these boys and girls, and teaches them to 
swim and to shoot. He has a large swim- 
ming class who are very grateful to their 
faithful teacher. Although Mr. Swoger, as 
constable, is a busy man, yet he has time to 
give to these children and he gives it freely 
and willingly. 

The "Busy Bees" constitute another im- 
portant part of this Sunday-school. They 
are a class of little girls and boys who 
meet each week to learn to sew. Miss Julia 
Rainard, of the Central Christian Church, 
Uniontown, Pennsylvania, is the teacher at 
the present time. Miss Rainard goes to New 
Town once a week and gives these children 
lessons in sewing. This class is made up en- 
tirely of children, mostly foreigners. There 
are about fifty in this class; about a dozen 
of them are boys. What a blessing this is 
to these foreigners. So many of them have 



30 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

no opportunity to learn this art, but in this 
case the children are taught to sew and they 
in turn can teach their parents. 

And thus the work in New Town goes 
on. This school, although recently begun, is 
known all over western Pennsylvania, yes, 
and elsewhere. The work is a noble one, 
and deserves the co-operation and prayers 
of all Christian people. New Town was at 
one time a very wicked place, but because 
of the work of these children, a reform has 
taken place. When we think of the good 
done by these little children without the help 
and advice of older people, and without the 
equipment necessary to really do things, 
just imagine what would be the result if 
the people of God took hold of this work 
and carried it on. When so much good 
is being done in such a small building, 
think what might be accomplished in a larger 
meeting-house. These earnest children pray 
every day for help in their work, and it is 
for the Christian people to see that these 
prayers are answered. 




THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT. 



. 



VIII. 

The New Superintendent and Her 
Teachers. 

Leona McGary is the present superin- 
tendent of the New Town Christian Mission 
Sunday-school. She is known as General 
Pickett by the people of New Town, because 
she is known to be a good leader and a great 
fighter against the sins of the world. She 
was a schoolmate of Maizie's, was one of the 
first of Maizie's pupils, and was a great ad- 
mirer of her teacher, who in return loved her 
dearly. 

Leona was born in Green County, Penn- 
sylvania, March 18, 1897, of Irish parents. 
She has a public-school education, plays the 
piano nicely, sings sweetly and is learning 
to swim and sew. This young girl loves to 
go to Sunday-school. Every Sunday morn- 
ing she attends the Christian Sunday-school 
in Brownsville, and in the afternoon con- 
ducts the mission Sunday-school. She is 
the first one at the room on Sunday after- 
noon, and is ready to shake hands with 

31 



32 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

every little one who comes to Sunday-school. 
The teachers of the school love their new 
superintendent, and are ready to help her 
in every good work. She in turn loves her 
teachers and pupils, and delights to teach 
them of God and his great love. Leona has 
a very determined disposition, and does ex- 
tra well whatever she undertakes. She was 
almost afraid to try to take Maizie's place, 
yet with God's help she decided to do her 
best. She teaches the boys and girls to pray, 
and asks them to pray for her. Leona is 
ever mindful of the fact that she is a child 
of God, and she grasps every opportunity 
to glorify her Father. All who know this 
young girl are proud of her and are glad 
that such a worthy successor of Maizie could 
be found. 

SWEET MABEL KISNER. 

Although but fourteen years old, Mabel 
Kisner is one of the most faithful workers 
of the New Town Union Christian Sunday- 
school. She loves every one, and is loved by 
all, hence her name "Sweet Mabel Kisner." 

Mabel is a teacher in the Sunday-school 
and is organist. She is a true child of God's. 
Being a member of the Baptist Church, this 



THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT 33 

girl attends the Baptist Sunday-school in 
Brownsville in the morning and attends the 
mission in the afternoon. 

This little girl loves all of God's handi- 
work. The birds and flowers are inter- 
esting to her, and she loves all children, 
whether good or bad. She thinks of her 
little pupils day and night, and tries to win 
them all to God. Mabel is very sincere in 
her love for God, and can not understand 
why every one will not accept him as his 
Father as soon as they hear of him. She is 
a true missionary of the cross. 

MILDRED ORR, SCOUT MISTRESS. 

Mildred Orr is one of the youngest teach- 
ers of which we have knowledge. She is 
but eleven years old, but is very sincere and 
earnest in her teaching. She was one of the 
first pupils Maizie had, and loved to listen 
to the beautiful story of God and his love. 
When the school was organized, Mildred 
was asked to teach the Primary class, and, 
although feeling her inability, she said she 
would gladly do what she could. 

This young teacher was born in Belle 
Vernon, Pennsylvania, and while living there 
attended the Christian Sunday-school. Now 



34 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

she attends the Christian Sunday-school in 
Brownsville in the morning, in order to pre- 
pare herself for teaching her class at the 
mission school in the afternoon, and because 
she loves to attend religious services. 

Mildred is a splendid teacher for small 
boys and girls. She seems to have a way 
about her which attracts them to her. How 
she loves the little ones too. The mothers 
of the foreign children love Mildred as much 
as do the little ones. 

This little girl organized and is mistress 
of the "Missionary Scouts/' This organiza- 
tion consists of five boys and four girls 
whose business it is to look after the ab- 
sent members of the Sunday-school, and 
report to their teacher every week. This 
organization has meant much to this school. 

Mildred, along with the other teachers 
of the school, is enrolled as a member of 
the "teacher-training class," and they study 
faithfully in order to become efficient teach- 
ers. She is always planning new things for 
her little ones. It is certainly inspiring to 
see this young teacher surrounded by her 
little ones every Sunday afternoon, all eager 
to learn. Already she has done much good, 
but she longs to do more. 




THE TEACHERS. 



THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT 35 



HELEN CARLSON. 

Sturdy Helen Carlson, the little Swedish 
girl, was one of Maizie's most faithful 
pupils. She loved her young teacher dearly, 
and longs for the time to come when she 
can go and be with Maizie. She is an 
earnest student of the Bible, studying it at 
all times. Her chief delight is in teaching 
this Word, and when engaged in doing this 
her face fairly beams. Helen teaches a large 
class of boys, and her highest ambition is 
to make of these boys honest, upright Chris- 
tian men. Besides teaching, Helen is treas- 
urer of the Sunday-school, and manages the 
money matters in a businesslike way. Not 
content to teach only on Sunday, Helen goes 
from house to house during the week teach- 
ing, thus giving her time fully in working 
for others. 

This faithful teacher was born in 1896, 
in Stoneboro, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. 
Her parents came direct from Stockholm, 
Sweden. Helen also attends the Christian 
Sunday-school in Brownsville. Last spring 
Helen was sent as a delegate to Uniontown, 
Pennsylvania, to attend the county Sunday- 
school convention. Helen is loved by all, 



36 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

and by many is called "Helen the Good/' 
and is worthy of her title. 

JOLLY ANNIE GILLEY. 

This sweet little girl is one of the hardest 
workers in the Union Christian Mission 
Sunday-school. Although Annie is but thir- 
teen years old, she is a splendid teacher. 
Every Sunday she is found in her place 
ready to do her part. She is so earnest in 
her work. She firmly believes that all people 
owe a great debt to God and should strive 
to pay this debt. She further believes that 
every boy and girl should be in Sunday- 
school, and if they won't come willingly, 
she thinks they should be forced to attend. 
However, most children in New Town are 
willing and anxious to go. 

Annie Gilley was born November 29, 1900, 
in Braznell, Pennsylvania. Her parents are 
English. Annie is impetuous, yet earnest; 
she can not be driven, but when rightly ap- 
proached can be led. Because of her jolly 
disposition and her love for fun, she is 
known as "Jolly Annie." 

SUSAN GILLEY. 

Susan Gilley is a sister to Annie. She is 
a faithful teacher in the Sunday-school and 



THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT 37 

is assistant superintendent. She was born 
in Grindstone, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1897. 
She, like her sister, attends the Christian 
Sunday-school in Brownsville in the morn- 
ing. 

Susan is very unlike her sister in dispo- 
sition. She is very kind, gentle and loving. 
She is very unselfish, always thinking of 
others. Because of her sweet, quiet ways, 
she is called by all "John the beloved.'' 

This young girl is very conscientious and 
sincere in her teaching. She feels a great 
responsibility resting on her as a teacher. 
She is particularly anxious that the for- 
eigners about her learn of Christ. It grieves 
her deeply because the surrounding churches 
do not do more for these strangers in our 
land. 

Although not very strong, Susan works 
early and late for her class, and never thinks 
anything too hard to do that will help others. 
She is truly loved by all. 

MARY BURICK, THE MISSIONARY. 

In little Mary Burick, the Union Mission 
Sunday-school has one of its most faithful 
teachers. Although only eleven years old, 
Mary teaches a Sunday-school class and in 



38 THE LITTLE SUPERINTENDENT 

the evening holds services upon the street. 

This little girl is of Slavish parents, and 
speaks both English and Slavish fluently, 
and conducts her services in both languages. 
Little Mary was born in Roscoe, Washing- 
ton County, Pennsylvania, on September 3, 
1902. 

Mary is doing a great work. She is called 
by all the little missionary. She is a true 
child of God, and all are proud of her and 
the good work she is doing. The Slavish 
folks are especially proud of this little girl. 

It is quite a treat to hear Mary talk to 
her pupils. The good she is doing can never 
be entirely estimated, but her influence is felt 
by men, women and children of all kinds. 



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